Documentation issued to bus operators and drivers following January 2017 Supreme Court Verdict
Request ID: FOI-1806-1718
Date published: 06 November 2017
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
In January 2017 the Supreme Court reached a verdict in the Paulley vs. FirstBus case, following which bus drivers must make a much more intensive effort to require people (non-wheelchair-users) blocking the wheelchair space on a bus to vacate the space when a wheelchair user needs it.
Please supply me with
(1) All communications issued by TfL to the London Bus operators and drivers relating to the changes in behaviour required from bus operators and bus drivers following the Supreme Court verdict mentioned above. Please include in this all circulars, briefings, guidance, instructions, posters, leaflets and any other documentation whatsoever issued by TfL to the London bus operators and drivers in relation to the Supreme Court verdict mentioned above
(2) All training materials used by TfL to train bus drivers in their new obligations arising from the Supreme Court verdict mentioned above.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-1806-1718/GH
Thank you for writing to us on 8 October 2017 asking for copies of documentation issued to bus operators and drivers following January 2017 Supreme Court verdict.
I can confirm we hold the information you require after considering your request under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy.
Attached are four key documents provided to bus operators and other TfL staff between February and August, as well as our bus driver training slides, course outline and script used. Similarly documents have been shared with accessibility stakeholders including Transport for All.
Guidance was updated immediately after the Supreme Court ruling and TfL met with the company delivering the Hello London customer experience course for bus drivers to ensure its training content reflected this. This included refreshing the acted out scenario where a wheelchair user tries to board a bus in which a buggy user is occupying the bay area and is ultimately prevented from boarding and has to catch the next bus. The Hello London actors playing the role of the driver, however, follow the most up to date approach during the conflict scene and following the end of the role play this prompts debate about the revised steps being taken to persuade passengers to move from the prioritised area. There is also a specific slide on the court ruling. We are also refreshing the content of a Diversity and Inclusion course which drivers undertake as part of their City and Guilds qualification with the outcome of the judgement and recommended actions in the event of bay conflict.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
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